Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Misplaced Modifiers

Modifier◦Describes, clarifies, or gives more detail

about other words in a sentence◦Can be a word or group of words

(phrase)

Misplaced modifier◦A modifier in the wrong place in a

sentence◦Makes sentences awkward, confusing,

or (unintentionally) humorous

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Do these sentences have different meanings? Why?

◦ The dog under the tree bit Carrie.

◦ The dog bit Carrie under the tree.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Sometimes modifiers are intentionally used for comic effect:

“The other day I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know.”

Groucho Marx

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

How can you correct this sentence?◦Buffy called her adorable kitten opening the can of food and filled the bowl.

◦Process: What is the modifier? What word does it describe, clarify, or

give more detail about? Where should the modifier be placed?

Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Misplaced modifier:◦Buffy called her adorable kitten opening the can of food and filled the bowl.

Correctly placed modifier:◦Opening the can of food, Buffy called her adorable kitten and filled the bowl.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

How can you correct this sentence?◦Portia rushed to the store loaded with cash to buy Guy’s birthday present.

◦Process: What is the modifier? What word does it describe, clarify, or

give more detail about? Where should the modifier be placed?

Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Misplaced modifier:◦Portia rushed to the store loaded with cash to buy Guy’s birthday present.

Correctly placed modifier:◦Portia, loaded with cash, rushed to the store to buy Guy’s birthday present.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

One-word modifiers that limit can easily be misplaced. These include:◦Almost, even, exactly, hardly, just,

merely, nearly, only, scarcely and simply

To be clear, place the modifier immediately before the word or phrase you want to limit.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Which sentence indicates that everyone in the class failed the exam? ◦Almost everyone in the class passed the calculus exam.

◦Everyone in the classed almost passed the calculus exam.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Which sentence indicates that Jean-Luc earned some money?

◦Jean-Luc nearly earned $100.

◦Jean-Luc earned nearly $100.

Misplaced Modifiers (cont)

Review◦Misplaced Modifier:

modifier in the wrong place in a sentence◦Process to correct misplaced

modifiers: What is the modifier? What word does it describe, clarify, or

give more detail about? Where should the modifier be placed?

Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.

One-word, limiting modifiers go directly before the word or phrase they modify

Dangling Modifiers

Dangling Modifier: ◦does not sensibly modify anything in

its sentence modifier is present, but it has nothing to

modify

◦often occur at the beginning or end of a sentence

◦often indicated by an –ing verb or a to + verb phrase

Dangling Modifiers (cont)

What is the modifier modifying?

◦Having finished dinner, the rugby match was turned on.

Remember, modifiers go next to the words or phrases they modify.

Dangling Modifiers (cont)3 ways to fix dangling modifiers:

◦ Name the appropriate doer of the action as the subject of the main clause

Having finished dinner, Jude turned on the rugby match.

◦ Place the subject of the action within the dangling modifier:

After Jude finished dinner, he turned on the rugby match.

◦ Combine the phrase◦Jude turned on the rugby match after finishing dinner.

Dangling Modifiers (cont)

How might you correct the following sentence?◦ Playing solitaire on the computer for

three hours, Michael’s paper was not finished.

◦Process: What is the modifier? What word does it describe, clarify, or give

more detail about? Do you need to insert doer? Where should the modifier be placed?

Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify

Dangling Modifiers (cont)

3 revised sentences with connected modifiers:

◦ Playing solitaire on the computer for three hours, Michael did not complete his paper.

◦ Because Michael played solitaire on the computer for three hours, he did not complete his paper.

◦ Michael did not complete his paper because he played solitaire on the computer for three hours.

Dangling Modifiers (cont)

How might you revise the following sentence?

◦To work as a loan officer, an education in financial planning is required.

◦Possible revision: To work as a loan officer, one needs

an education in financial planning.

Dangling Modifiers (cont’d)◦How might you revise the following sentence?

◦To improve her grade, the test was completed again.

◦Possible revision:◦ She repeated the test to improve her

grade.

Dangling Modifiers (cont)

How might you revise the following sentence?

After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing.

Possible revision:◦ After reading the original study, I

find the article unconvincing.

Dangling Modifiers (cont)

Review◦Dangling modifier:

modifier is present, but it has nothing to modify often occur at the beginning or end of a

sentence often indicated by an –ing verb or a to + verb

phrase

◦Process to correct dangling modifiers: Name the appropriate or logical doer of the

action as the subject of the main clause Place the subject of the action within the

dangling modifier: Combine the phrase and clause.